Toy material handling and display device



y 1941- R. D. BEERBOWER 8,04

TOY MATERIAL HANDLING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 a: I85 I31 {/83 FL I - Russel D. Beerbower INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 8, 1941. R. D. BEERBOWER TOY MATERIAL HANDLING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5.

Russel D. Bcerbower INVENTOR. I BYW/ W ATTORNEY.

July 8, 1941. R. D. BEERBOWER 2,243,041

TOY MATERIAL HANDLING AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1939 E-Sheets-Sheet 3 Russel D. Beerbower INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY MATERIAL HANDLING AND DISPLAY DEVICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for conveying from place to place and for classifying objects. More specifically it relates to a toy which is adapted to receive an assortment of attractive objects such as colored marbles, elevate them and classify them for delivery to a vehicle or other station at a. lower elevation.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a conveyor which is driven from a central power source but which may be pivoted to any desired degree while being driven.

Another object of my invention is to provide a classifying system which comprises a receiving bay, a feeder device and a classifying device.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a classifying system in which the objects to be classified may be circulated to afford amusement.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an object feeding device which may receive a number of objects but which will discharge them singly and at regular intervals.

Still another object of the invention is to produce a conveying system which may be conveniently used with other well known toys such as dump trucks, trains, wagons, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for selectively returning classified objects from the containers receiving them to the conveyor system.

Other objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the drawings which form a part thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View showing the conveyors, feeding device, classifier, power system and the various receptacles appurtenant thereto.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device of Figure 1, but with the conveyor rotated ninety degrees and elevated. I

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 showing the frame structure of the device as well as the method of mounting various parts.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the feeding device viewed from the left of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the chute showing the telescopic point and the chute support.

Figure 7 is an end view of the device of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 1.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3. the numeral I represents a base to which are fixed two side brackets 3 by means of bolts 5 which pass through flanges 1. Ears 9 are also formed on the brackets and are turned inwardly to receive a. U-shaped channel ll. channel, ear, flange 1 and base I to hold all of said parts in position.

The brackets are provided with projecting portions which extend beyond the base so that cars or trucks may be loaded by gravity from the hoppers or compartments to be described. These portions of the brackets are provided with inwardly directed flanges I1 and [9 at their upper and lower edges respectively. Extendingbetween and fixed to these flanges by bolts 2| are two angular strips 23 and 25'which form a tube of rectangular cross-section (seeFigure 3) with the legs of the angles forming the walls thereof. Walls 25 are formed with tabs or projections 24 as shown in Figure 3, which enter slots in the walls 23 and are bent over or twisted to hold the walls in close relation.

A partition 21 is placed across said tube and is held in place by tabs which extend through the walls thereof to form two compartments A and B (Figure 1). A second partition 28 completes the compartment A.

Two openings 29 are formed in the front wall 23 of the tube and adjacent the bottom thereof, one of which communicates with hopper A and the other with hopper B. A loop 3| (Figure 8) is pressed inwardly above each of the openings and slidable gates 33 are mounted in the loops to close the openings.

Two openings 35 are also formed in the bottom portion 25 of the tube one communicating with each of the hoppers (Figures land 8) and these openings are closed by gates 31 which are slidable in loops 39 formed in the back wall of the 2 tube and which have bent over portions 4| adapted to close the openings when the gates are in their lowermost positions.

A short chute 43 (Figures 1 and 8) is formed on the lower wall 25 adjacent openings 29 and is adapted to receive objects discharging from either opening. This chute tapers at its outer end so as to discharge one object at a time into the trough 45 to be described.

Two vertical columns 41 of U-shaped crosssection extend between the tubeand the base I (Figures 2 and 3). These columns are provided with flat projections 49 at their upper ends which are slidably received in loops 5| pressed out of the front wall 23 of the tube and with'projec- Bolts [3 pass through the.

finger-H11.

hopper B.

tions 53 at their lower ends which enter slots formed in the base I.

Ears 55 are bent up from the channel member II to form bearings for the power shafts 51 and 59 the other ends of which are supported in holes formed in the columns 41.

Pulleys BI, 63 and 65 are mounted on shaft 51 while pulleys 66 and 51 are fixed to shaft 59. A suitable .belt connects pulley 61 with that of an electric motor 69 which is suitably fixed tothe base I. A belt connects pulleys 66 and 63 so that movement will be transmitted to shaft 51.

A shaft H is mounted in ears 13 which are pressed out of the base I, and this shaft-carries a A substantially U-shaped pulley bracket 11 is adapted to support a shaft 19 upon which is mounted a two step pulley BI 83. provided with a projection 85 which is received in loops .81 formed from'the upper side .23 of the tube described above. A belt connects pulley 565 with-pulley 8;I.' 7

Mounted above .iandupon the rectangular .tube

v are .itWO. complementary brackets :89 .which are provided with ldownw'ardly :depending ears 9i 91 {and 99"which tare perforated :to receive the shaft. I

-;'-Ihe head {911s cutaway at I29I to permit-objects t0 :enti'izthe cylinder-while the head 99 'is cutxalong :;the lines :I93 and bent inwardly on The bracket is which are perforated to receiv a shaft 93. A I feederccylin-der or .drum;95isz;provided .with heads thevli'ne 4:115 szto form. 'an inwardly extending ;-.A--h.oipher :k9-9 formedwith an inclined bottom .I IEI is mounted adjacent the head 31-and is arranged toifeed objects therethrough into the cylinder; {The hopper is preferably mounted on f an; inverted-U-shaped support m: which is mounted gonihe top wall 23' by means of tabs II2 which pass thru slots in said :wall and are blentoven The hopper is :similarly mounted on the support by'meanslof tabs -I I4.

:j A classifying track H3 is mounted above hop- 3 pers A and,-B andtisprovided with a trough .115 1 which is disposed adjacent the head 99 and is adapted to receive .theaobjects discharged from thexcylinder'; 'I'heinnerend;of the track is supported ozra collars-II4;which'rests;on wall 23 and j is -heldainplace:byimeans of a'bolt H3. The-outer 1 endjof-thetrack is inserted :between :the top wall 1 23 and .the bracket :flange :I11 and ;is held .in .place by bolt 2|. toward the ,trough and classifier-and the latter is-t-ilted to feed theob ects away from the cylinden; .Ifhe .trackvis provided with .a slot I.I.-1 of predetermined width above the "hopper A and The cylinder is tilted to :feedobjects with .a slot:..I-I 9 of ,greater width above the ,gAlbelt' runs from the ,pulley 83 around the cylinder 95 and serves to rotate the cylinder about itsaxis93.

f 'A'hopp'er I 21 is'fformedwith .an'inclinedfbottom I 23, andwith an ear.or;projection I25 which .is perforated to receive a vertical shaft I21. The 1 shaft'isjmountedin a bearing I129 formed as a headed bushing which extends through .the base l and is held in place 'by nut 123.3The shaft carries aworm wheel I39 at 'its lower end and a rh'iter gear1'32at'itsupper end (Figures '1 and e whee ie-eraser) worm I34 onshaft The hopper" is provided with-a substantially tangential trough I31 which is formed with relamounted for rotation thereon.

means of the gearing .59,

tively high side walls I33 which are perforated to receive a horizontal shaft I35.

A conveyor indicated generally by numeral I31 is formed of a long fiat member I39 which has its lateral edges bent upwardly to form the sides I4I of a trough and which has the center portion centrally slotted and bent downwardly into the plane of said sides I4I, at each end as shown at I43.

A shaft I45 extends through perforations in the upper end portions I43 and a roll I41 is A roll I49 is mounted to rotate with shaft I35 which is driven 9A belt I53 of any desirable flexible material runs over the rolls I41 and I49 and is provided with transversely extending cleats I 55 adapted to engage under objects in the trough and to carry them upwardly with the belt as it is driven.

Numeral =I-51 indicates a post which is fixed to the side wall of the hopper IZI and which is provided-at its upper end with two parallel spring ears I59 which areformedby slotting the tube and flatting the walls thereof. A cord I58 which is fixed to the conveyor frame, passes between and is frictionally held by said ears so as to hold theconveyor frame in any selected position.

If theconveyor is used for loading containers other than the hopper 199, an auxiliary chute I63 having ears I65 adapted to fit over the ends of axle I45 may be usedas shown in Figure 2.

The extensible trough 45 is formed substantially semi-circular in cross-section and of two parts I51, I69, the former part being larger than andadapted=to receive the latter. Two ears I II on I61 are bent over as shown in Figure 6 to engage the inner surface of I59 to hold 'the chutes'in'position. v

A standard I13, of U-shaped cross-section is held in place on the base I by a bolt I15. The standard is provided withran opening I11 adapted to receive the trough sections. The opening is provided with shoulders I19 which serve to hold the troughs in position.

Standard I13 is so placed as todirect thetrough between the chute 43 and the hopper MI. The endof the trough 45 adjacent chute 43 is provided with a projection I8I which passes'through the front wall 23 as shown .in Figure 8 and is bent downwardly to hold the chute iniplace.

An inclined way I83 shown in Figure 1 may be used to facilitate the rolling of trucks or other vehicles up to a position in which they maybe emptied 'into the hopper ['21. The way maybe provided with flanges I85 to guide the wheels of the vehicles.

Operation With the motor running, the conveyor is set in =motion in a direction to elevate objects, it being driven by the gearing 59, 51, 69, 6'3, 5!. 1.5, M, 1-34, I39, I21, I32; I5I, I35, andaroll I49. It serves to elevate the objects which are preferably balls .or marbles and discharge them into the hopper I09. The acleats I155 are wide enoughto lift two balls at a time and hence the latter accumulate in the hopper.

The cylinder v is rotated by the and .83.

The belt on pulley 83 runs entirely around the cylinder and rotates it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, with the result that balls which are fed into the cylinder through motor by .31, .33, $3, :51; .55., .81,

openings IOI due to the sloping bottom ofthe hopper are fed by the inclined position of the drum into engagement with the head 99 thereof and are picked up by the finger I'Ol and discharged into trough H and on to the classifier H3. The space between the head 99 and the tip of the finger I0! is sufficient to permit the passage of only one ball hence only'one ball is discharged by the drum in each revolution.

As indicated above, the balls are preferably of diiferent sizes and each size is distinctively colored. As the balls roll down the inclined classifier H3, the small balls will drop through slot l I! and into hopper A which will accordingly contain balls of one color, while the large balls will pass over slot H1 and drop through slot H9 into hopper B which will therefore collect balls of another color.

It is of course obvious that any suitable number of ball sizes, colors and hoppers may be provided instead of the two herein disclosed if this is desired.

The balls may be discharged from hoppers A and B into vehicles or containers placed under the hoppers through the bottom openings 35 by raising the gates 31. Alternatively they may be discharged through the front openings 29' hoppers A and/or B as desired. The height and inclination of the conveyor may be adjusted manually to suit conditions and the position will be maintained by the friction member I59 acting on the cord I6I. The attachment I63 is removable and is used when the elevation of the conveyor is such as to require a lateral displacement of the balls beyond the conveyor proper.

Vehicles may be run up the track I83 on to the base I and emptied into the hopper lZl. The track is movable so that it may be placed to suit the requirements.

The conveyor and hopper may be pivoted for the full 360 degrees about shaft I2! and it will operate in any such position. In some positions it will be impossible to fill the hopper l2! from trough 45 since the hopper will pass beyond the range of the trough.

It is obvious that various changes can be:

made in the form, construction and arrange ment of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Applicant does not therefore desire to be limited to the specific embodiment herein disclosed as the preferred embodiment of his invention but rather he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

What I consider to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. In a ball handling toy, the combination of first and second hoppers disposed at different levels and means for conveying balls from the lower to the upper hopper, a plurality of stora e hoppers disposed at a level intermediate said first mentioned hoppers and means for gravitationally feeding said balls to said storage hoppers, said last named means including means 3O -Ipartment mounted for rotation about an axis and provided with a head disposed transversely for automatically classifying said balls as to size and depositing all balls of similar size in the same hopper, means for feeding said balls one at a time to said classifying means and common 7 power means for driving said conveying-and said feeding means.

2. In a ball handling toy, the combination of a first hopper and a plurality of storage hoppers disposed at a level below said first hopper, a classifying device disposed above said storage hoppers and adapted to distribute said balls according to size to said storage hoppers, and means for releasing balls singly to said classifying element, said means comprising an ele-' ment mounted for rotation about an axis and having an eccentric opening therein, a baffle mounted to overlie said opening but spaced therefrom to permit lateral entrance of a ball therebetween and means for rotating said element whereby one ball will pass around said baffle and through said opening at each revolution of the element.

3. In a ball handling toy, the combination of a first hopper and a plurality of storage hoppers disposed at a level below said first hopper, a classifying device disposed above said storage hoppers and adapted to distribute said balls according to size to said storage hoppers and a ball releasing device comprising a receiving comto the axis of rotationysaid axis being inclined downwardly in the direction of said head, an

opening disposed eccentrically of said head, and a baffle disposed transversely of 'said'axis and spaced axially inwardly over said opening a distance less than a multiple of the diameter of a minimum sized ball, and means for rotating said -levels and means for conveying balls from the pers, said last named means including means first mentioned hoppers and means forgravitationally feeding said balls to said storage hopfor automatically classifying said balls as to size and depositing allv balls of similar size inthe same hopper, selectively. controllable discharge openings on said storage hoppers and additional means disposed between the openings in said storage hoppers and said first hopper for conveying balls from the former to-the latter.

5. In a ball handling toy. the combination of first and second hoppers disposed at different levels and means for conveying b-alls from the first to the second hopper, a plurality of storage hoppers disposed at a level intermediate said first mentioned hoppers and means for gravitationally feeding said balls to said storage hoppers, said last named means including means for automatically classifying said balls as to size and depositing all balls of similar size in the same hopper said conveyor being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis to permit delivery by the conveyor to selected points in a horizontal plane, selectively controllable discharge openings in said storage hoppers and additional means for conveying balls from said openings in said storage hoppers to said first hopper.

6. In a ball handling. toy, the combination of. first and'second hoppers disposed at different: levels and means for conveying balls from the first to the second hopper, a plu-rali-tyof storage hoppers disposed at a level intermediate said first mentioned hoppers and means for gravitaltionally feeding said balls to said storage hoppers, said last named means including means for automatically classifying said balls as to size and depositing all balls of similar size in the same hopper, said conveyor being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis to permit delivery by the conveyor to selected points in a horizontal plane, selectively controllable discharge openings in said storage hoppers and additional means for conveying balls from said openings to said first hopper said additional conveying means hoppers disposed at a level intermediate said first mentioned hoppers and means for gravitationally feeding said balls to said storage hoppers; said last named meansincluding means for automatically classifying said balls as to size and depositing all balls of similar size in the same f hopper, selectively controllable discharge openings insaid storage hoppers and additional 1 means for returning balls discharged through V 1 said openings into said first hopper.

8. In' a ball handling toy, the combination of first and second hoppers disposed at difierent levels and means for conveying balls from the 1 lower to the upper hopper, a plurality of stor- I age hoppers disposed at a level intermediate said f first mentioned hoppers and means for gravitationally 'feeding said balls to said storage hop- 1 pers, said last named means including means for automatically classifying said balls as to size and j depositing all balls of similar 'size in the same Q hopper, said conveyor being mounted for rota- 1 tion about a vertical power driven shaft,"to per-' 1 mit delivery by the conveyor to points in a' horizontal plane, and means for' connecting said conveying means to be driven by said power shaft.

9 In a ball handling toy, the combination of disposed at a level below said first hop-per, a

to said opening upon each revolution of said cylinder.

10. In a ball handling toy, the combination of first and second hoppers disposed at different levels and means for conveying balls from the lower to the upper hopper, a plurality of. storage hoppers disposed at a level intermediate said: first mentioned hoppers and means for gravita-' discharge openings in the bottoms of said stor-' age hoppers, and selectively operable closures for said openings.

11. In a toy ball handling device the combi nation of a base, a pair of parallel and complementary brackets comprising inwardly directed parallel flanges, a pair of angle members fastened one to'each pair of flanges to form a closed rectangular tube extending between said brackets.

12. In a nation of a base, a 'pair' of parallel'and'complemen-tary brackets comprising inwardly direoted parallel flanges, apair of angle members fastened one to eachv pair of flanges to form a closed rectangulartu-be extendingbetween said brackets, columns formed of U-shaped cross section and provided with flatprojection-s on each end, loops pressed from one vertical wall of saidtube and a slot in said base adapted to receive the respective projections, said tube be the inwardly directed legs of ing supported on said columns.

13. In a ball handling toy, the'combination of first and second hoppers disposed at difierent V tationally feeding said balls to said storagehopa first hopper and a plurality ofstorage hoppers pers, said last named means including means for automatically classifying said balls as to size and depositing all balls of similar size in the same hopper, said conveyor being "mounted for rotation about a vertical'axis to'permit delivery by the conveyor to selected points in a horizontal plane, selectively controllable discharge openings in said storage hoppersand additional means for conveying balls from said openings to said first hopper said additional conveying means comprising a ball guide, means for mounting said guide to discharge toward said first hopper, said guide comprising an adjustable portion at the discharge end thereof.

RUSSEL'D'BEERBOWER.

toy ball handling device the cornbi'-' 

